Wall structure



April 27, 1937. c. B. RowLr-:Y Er AL 2,078,281

WALL STRUCTURE Filed May 1o. 1955 4 sheets-sheet 1 VTIUHT uw ummm Ill. f2 f 4 )7 l5 r A 'WL/1@ Wwf NL@ /A/Vf/vroes: Y

' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 27, 1937. c. B. RowLEY Er Ag WALL STRUCTURE Filed May l0, 1953 April 27,11937. c. B. RowLEY E-r A| WALL STRUCTURE Filed May 10, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 27, 1937. c. B. RowLEY ET AL 2,078,281

' y WALL STRUCTURE Filed May l0, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES WALL STRUCTURE Charles B. Rowley and Meade A. Spencer, Cleveland, Ohio Application May 10, 1933, Serial No. 670,240

Claims.

Our invention relates to metallic building construction and particularly to exterior wall constructions in which the outer or weather surface is formed by panels of sheet metal or other suitable material.

In such wall constructions an important consideration is the attachment of the panels to the frame or core structure oi. the wall and the primary object of our invention is to provide a wall construction having means for attaching the outer panel parts so constructed that the panels can be secured to the frame or core of the wall entirely from the outer side of the wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide d panel-attaching means such as last referred to adapted to permit removal of individual panels without moving or disturbing adjacent panels.

Still another object or the invention is to provide panel-attaching means adapted to clamp the panels rinly to the core structure or the wall.

Further objects oi' the invention are comprised in the provision of a panel fastening means which does notv reduire close tting of the cooperating parts, which permite a high degree of freedom in the location ci the panel joints and which is made up oi parts that can be fabricated readily end at lov; cost.

with the foregoing objects, and other more or less incidental or ancillary objects in view, our invention consists in the provision of a wall structure having a core part, which may be constructed in a variety oi ways, an outer covering made up of sheet metal panels arranged with intervening joint spaces between the edges of adjacent panels and means iorsecuring the panels to the core part, said means being disposed in the spaces between the panels and being accessible from the outer side of the wall to fasten or unfasten the panels.

core part oi the wall may consist of a loadbearing structure, or it may be made up in part of a load-bearing structure and in part of a nonload-bearing structure. Also the core part, depending on its character, may or may not have an interior wall covering, as plaster or lath and plaster. The joint spaces between the outer panels are filled with a suitable mortar or cement to render the joints weather tight and at the same time cover the fastening means and give the wall a pleasing appearance.

' The various objects of the invention and the manner of attaining them will be better understood from the following description of the several embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Fig.. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a wall constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a. horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section on the line 3-3 0f Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentaryr horizontal one of the panel-securing strips.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary side eleva.- tion oi said strip.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of an edge portion of one of the wall panels.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary edge eleva tion of the panel portion shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section on the line lll- I0 of Fig. i.

Fig. i1 is a similar section taken on the line ii-ii of Fig. l.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section on the line i2--l2 of Fig. i.

Fig. i3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section showing a wall construction with a modifled form. of panel joint and securing means.

Fig. 14 is a vertical section on the line i-it of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a vertical section on the line (i5-i5 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the core part oi the wall structure shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary horizontal section showing a modified iorm of wall construction embodying our invention.

Fig. 18 is a. fragmentary vertical section showing the coping of a wall structure of the character illustrated in Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is view of the same character as Fig. 17 showing a. modication of the core structure of the wall with the same general type of connection for the panels.

Fig. 20 is a. fragmentary horizontal section showing details of construction at a window opening for a wall employing the type of construction shown in Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the manner in which the bottom tier of panels are supported in wall structures such as shown in Figs. 19 and 22.

Fig. 22 is another view of the same character as Figs. 17 and 19 but showing a further modification of the core structure of the wall.

Referring now in detail to the several forms of construction illustrated and rst to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 12, I designates as an entirety a section of the outer wall of the first story of a building embodying our invention, the building being of the residence type and making ex-v tensive use of metal construction. 'I'he portion of wall illustrated includes an entrance door opening and a Window opening, 2 indicating the frame and outer trim structure of the door and 3 indicating the frame of the Window. The wall structure comprises a core part designated as an entirety by 4 and comprising box-like uprights 5-5 which are disposed chieiy at the door and window openings and serve as main supports for the frames of such openings, and other supplemental uprights such as the channels 6 6 (Figs. and 11). The core structure of the wall further comprises an upright plate or sheet 'I which is secured by welding or otherwise to the main uprights 5 5. The sheet 1 is preferably bent as indicatedr on vertical lines to give it an oiset form which greatly stiiens and strengthens the core structure. The inner side of the wall is given a finish covering 8 composed of metal lath 8 and plaster 8b. The sheet I presents a series of vertical plain surfaces 'Ia at the outer face of the core structure and to these surfaces Ia are secured the enameled sheet steel panels constituting the outer surface of the wall structure, these panels being of different sizes as indicated at 9, I0, II, I2 and I3, the dimensions of the various panels being determined primarily by the distances between door and window openings, though variation in the sizes also lends desirable variety to the appearance of the wall. At the corners of the building a special angle type of panel I3 is employed, these corner panels being similar in construction to the fiat panels, except for the angular form. l

Referring to the detailed construction of the iiat or standard panels, each panel comprises a metal sheet, such as 9 and Illa, having its corners suitably cut away and its edge portions bent into Z form, as viewed in section in Figs. 4 and 8, with edge portions, such as 9b and IIIb, and flange portions, such as 9 and I0, said flange portions on the longer sides of the panels being transversely corrugated or uted for a purpose which will presently be explained. A dishedyorwV pan-like structure is thus produced which is given adequate stiffness or rigidity by welding together the edge portions, such as 9b and I0b, at the corners of the pan-like structure. To provide a suitable finish, the outer surface of the metal sheets of the panels may be coated with vitreous enamel, which effectively protects the sheet metal against rusting as well as affording a pleasing appearance. The panels are advantageously provided with a thick backing I4 (Fig. 4) for the metal sheet of the panel and such backing may be of mineral board or block of a heat-insulating character. Additional heat-insulating material (not shown) may be placed in the wall spaces at either side of the sheets 'I.

To secure the panels to the core or body part of the wall we provide fastening strips I5 which are preferably made up of two angle members as I6 and II (Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7) which may be welded together to form a unitary structure which in turn may be welded to the metal sheet I of the wall, as indicated in Fig. 4. The angle strips I6 and I'I each has the edge of one leg of the Aangle bent or curved as indicated at II and I'I while the other leg of each angle is formed with a series of flexible lugs I6 and I 1b. The curved edges I6, I'In may be formed and the lugs I 6b,

I'Ib may be struck up in the process of rolling the angles. The lugs of the strips I5 are originally formed as shown in full lines in Fig. 6 but, in attaching the panels, may be more or less bent outward as shown by dotted lines in said ilgure. 'Ihe angle strips I6 and Il are welded or otherwise secured together with the lugs I 6b in staggered relation to the lugs I'Ib, as illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. The inner edges of the lugs I6", I 'Ib are inclined to the longitudinal axis of the strips I5 as indicated at I6c and IIc in Fig. 7.

With the strips I5 welded in upright position to the wall plate v'I at suitable distances apart to conform to the width of the panels, the latter are readily attached to the wall as shown in Fig. 4 by placing the inner edges of the panel against the outwardly curved edges |68, I'If* of the strips I5 whereupon the lugs I6b, I`Ib can be bent laterally by inserting a tool, such as a heavy screwdriver, between the lugs of one strip and the adjacent part of the other strip. As the lugs are thus bent and swung laterally about axes intersecting the core of the wall, their inner, inclined edges IGc, IIc are brought into sliding engagement with the corrugated or fiuted edge of the panel flanges, as 9, and, as the fiuted anges are slightly resiliently flexible, they yield somewhat under the cam-like action of the inclined edge surfaces of the lugs with the result that the flanged edges of the panels and the securing strips I5 are firmly locked together. Since the strips I5 when welded or otherwise fixed on the core become in effect a part of the core structure, the lugs I6", I'I serve 5 effectively to clamp the panels to the core structure and firmly hold them in position. Furthermore, the edgewise reaction on the lugs of the clamping stress does not tend to bend or swing the lugs in a way to loosen their engagement with the panels. The panels can be secured to the core part of the wall structure in the manner described at their horizontal edges as well as at their vertical edges, but as the panels are ordinarily relatively narrow, as shown in Fig. 1, and as their pan-like form gives them relatively great stiffness and rigidity, we find it quite sufficient to so secure the panels at their longer, vertical edges.

VThe strips I5, which constitute devices for fastening the panels to the core section of the wall, are unitary devices not merely in a structural sense but also in the sense that they are completely attached as units to the core structure and when so attached permit the rapid assembly and attachment of the panels by the mere manipulation or bending of the movable lugs IIib, I'Ib of the strips.

After the panels have been secured in the manner described the joints between them are nished by forcing packing strips I9 of water proof felt or the like into the joint spaces against the edges of the strips I5 and then filling in the remaining intervening space with some suitable elastic cement 20. In the case of the short horizontal joints a deeper felt packing I9 is required, as shown in Fig. 12. This packing rests against the edge flanges IIIb of the inwardly turned parts I Ila of the panels I 0 and the joint is tightly sealed by the elastic cement as in the case of the vertical joints.

In case an individual panel becomes damaged or there is need for any reason to remove and replace a panel, such removal is readily eected by simply removing the cement in the joint surrounding the edges of the panel in question whereupon the fastening lugs holding the panel can be bent back out of engagement with it so that the panel can be removed without moving or disturbing any of the adjacent panels. The same panel, or another one, can then be inserted and secured in the manner already described.

As shown in Fig. 10, the door frame and outer trim member 2 is welded at its inner side to an angle strip 2| which in turn is welded to one of the main metal uprights 5. The other edge of the member 2 is formed with parts 2* and 2b, similar to the edge portions of the panels, so that it can be secured, together with the adjacent edge of the panel I8, by one of the fastening strips l5 to the core part 1 of the wall. The door frame member is preferably backed by heavy metal structural members 22 and 22'. At 23 is shown a metal trim or finish for the door frame which may be secured to the upright 5 as indicated or in any other suitable manner, these features constituting no part of the present invention. In Fig. 11 is shown a treatment at the window opening more or less similar to that at the door opening. 'Ihat is. the window frame is welded at its inner side to an angle strip 24 secured to the upright 5 and at its outer edge is attached by a joint 25 of the character previously described, said joint serving also to secure the adjacent edge of one of the panels l0. At 25 is shown a metal trim for the window.

While in the wall shown in Fig. 1 the elongated panels have their major dimensions vertical, it is to be understood that they may be horizontal, and in that event the strips I5 would extend horizontally.

In Fig. 3 we have indicated a `suitable manner of securing the lower edges of the bottom tier of panels to the foundation wall structure. Here a metal strip 21 bent to overlie the top of the foundation wall 21 has its lower edge folded upward at 2'lbto receive the lower flange 81 of the panel 8. The metal strip 21, or so much thereof as will be exposed to the weather, may be coated with enamel, or the strip may be formed of rustless material.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 13 to 16, inclusive. the core part of the wall is of the same character as that previously described comprising the offset metal sheet portion 28 and various uprights, two of which are shown at 28. The inner surface of the wall is finished with metal lath 30 and plaster 3i as in the first form of construction. The panels 32, 32 are of the same general character as those of the rst described construction but the edge portions differ somewhat in detail, comprising the inturned parts 32*L and flanges 32b with outwardly bent edges 32. The panels are secured to the core of the wall by means of nail-like fasteners 33 which comprise a curved shank part 33*L and a head portion 33h formed as shown in Figs. 13 and 15 to embrace the outwardly turned edges 32 of the panels. The metal sheets 28 of the core structure are formed with struck up straps` 2li'L as shown in Figs. 13 and 16 to receive the Shanks of the fasteners 33.

With adjacent panels held in position against the core plate 28 the fasteners 33 may be inserted through the joint space intervening between the edges of the panels so as to engage the straps 28. When the fasteners are driven downward in engagement with the straps 28* their heads 33b press against the edges 32c of the panels and the parts are thus wedged very tightly together and the panels are thus firmly secured to the core of the wall. The joints are then finished by inserting suitable packing 34 of felt or the like and elastic cement 35.

In the construction shown in Fig. 17, 38 designates a fragment of the core portion of the wall comprising a sheet metal part 38* which may be of the same character as the part 1 in the first described construction, with a backing of masonry 36". To the metal sheet 35* are welded channel members 31 having each leg of the channel formed with a series of perforations 31, 31a. The panels 38, in this construction, comprise the sheet metal part 33 which has its edge portion bent rearwardly at 38h and formed with flanges 38. The portion 38h is preferably also formed with a longitudinal fluting as at 38d and with a series of perforations 38e designed to register with the perforations 31* of the channels 31. The

pan-like panels thus formed are provided with backing parts 38f of the character previously described. l l

When the channels are applied to the core portion of the wall the edge sections 38h enter the channels as indicated in Fig. 17. Rope-like packing 38, 39 is then forced into the intervening space between the edges of the panels and the latter are then secured to the channels 31 by inserting resilient locking devices 40 shaped as indicated in Fig. 17. With a suitable pincher-like tool this resilient locking device can be inserted edgewise into the joint space and then turned with its ends engaging the channels formed by the utlng 38d. As the device 48 is forcibly turned in this manner the end portions are forced nearer together until they are brought into register with the apertures 38e and the aligning apertures. 31 whereupon the ends snap into said apertures and lock the panels to the channel 31. The joint is then finished by introducing elastic cement 4|. Figure 18 illustrates a coping for a wall of the character indicated in Fig. 17 and at the same time serves to show a horizontal joint without a positive locking device. Here a horizontally extending angle 42 is bolted to the top edge of the core sheet 36EL and the structure is further `strengthened by a heavy metal strip 43 which is bolted to the angle 42. The masonry filling 36b of the core is backed by a flashing consisting of the roof sheets 44 and 45 which. together with the metal coping structure 46, are secured to the core structure by means of screws 41. ture 46 is bent at 46u in the same manner as the edge portion of the panels 38 and cooperates with l the latter to form a joint 48 comprising rope packing 4i!a and elastic cement 48h.

As shown in Fig. 19, our invention is applied to a wall core structure of a somewhat different type. Here the main steel upright members of the wall are formed by angles 48, 49 which are secured together by bolts 58 with Z-shaped strips 5I, 5I and an intervening packing strip 52 clamped between the angles. The strips 5i may be welded to the angles as indicated and the projecting parts'of the strips form, in effect, a channel similar in form to the channel 31 in Fig. 17. The strips 5I also are perforated in the same manner as the channel 31 to cooperate with panels 53 and form a fastening and joint structure 54 which is of the same character as that shown in Fig. 17 and need.v not be further described. Masonry blocks 55. 55 may be secured to the steel framework of the core structure of the wall as by screws 56 driven between the chan- The outer part of the metal coping struc-` nel members 49. An inside plaster finish 51 is shown applied to the masonry.

Fig. 20 indicates-the manner in which the core of a wall such as is shown in Fig. 19 may be constructed at the window openings as well Vas the manner in which the panels 53 may be secured at such openings. Here an upright angle bar 58 supports adjacent masonry block 55. A metal strip 55 is welded to the angle 58' and is formed with perforations ."9'L to receive a bent locking pin 80 which also engages the perforation in the edge of the panel 53. The positions of the window frame and sash members are indicated by dotand-dash lines and it will be understood that the Joint formed between the edge of the panel and the window frame may be finished or covered with suitable elastic cement (not shown).

Fig. 2l shows the manner in which the lower` tier of panels can be supported in the type of wall construction shown in Fig. 19. Here 68 represents one leg of one of the main upright steel angles of the core structure of the wall which rests upon the foundation wall 69. 'I0 indicates the lower part of the channel structure to which the panels 1I are secured at their vertical joints. To support the lower tier of panels a metal strip 'I2 with outwardly turned ange 12* at its lower edge is secured by means of bolts 13 to the legs of the angles 58, the latter being slotted as indicated at 58a to receive said bolts.

In Fig. 22 we illustrate a construction of the same general character as that shown in Fig. 19 but with the metal structural members welded together instead of bolted together. That is to say, the main structural uprights of the core structure are formed by steel angles 6|, 6| which are welded together with intervening strips 62, 62 which form the channel parts to which the panels 63, 63 are secured with joints 64 which are of the same character as the joints shown in Fig. 17. Here again the-core structure of the wall comprises masonry block 65, 65 which are secured to the steel frame work by driven screws 65 and the inner surface of the core structure is covered with a suitable plaster finish as at 51.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that our improved method of attaching metal panels to the core structure of a wall has marked advantages. In all of the several forms of construction which have been described it is possible, in the original construction of the building, to attach the sheet metal panels entirely from the outside of the wall. I'his makes the outer finish of the Wall entirely independent of the interior finish and this is of marked advantage both in the original construction of the building and in case of any repairs to the outer panels. For example, in the case of such repairs individual panels may be replaced without disturbing the interior nish of the wall in any way.

Again, our improved methods of securing the panels make it possible to attach the panels rapidly and this results in low 'construction cost., Furthermore, where the panel-securing means are attached to a sheet metal core structure, particularly as inthe first described construction, wide latitude is permitted as to the location of panel joints. 'I'hus the fastening strips I5 can be located and welded to the core structure on the job" without any special attention to the location rof the joints in the factory fabrication of the parts and this not only permits latitude as to the location of the joints but tends to speed the work of erection because it insures a proper location of the fastening strips and prevents delays incident to'refltting of parts, the dimensions of which have been determined in the factory. Ease of attaching the panels is facilitated in the rst described construction by the great ease with which the lugs of the strips I5 can be bent out into effective engagement with the panels. Furthermore, this bent lug construction makes it possible to effectively secure the panels notwithstanding some variations in dimensions of the parts since it is only necessary to bend the lugs, more or less, until they effectively engage the uted edges of the panels. It will also be apparent that we have provided effective means for securing panels to the core structure of the wall which can readily and economically be fabricated. This is particularly true of the rst described construction.

It will be apparent that our improved panel attaching means serve to positively lock the panels to the core structure of the wall and secure the panels against movement in any direction.

It will be understood that our improvements are not limited to any of the specific forms of construction, which have been shown and described for purposes of explanation and illustration, except as may be indicated by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a wall structure, the combination of a core part; sheet metal panels forming the covering of the core part, the metallic panel sheets having edge portions thereof turned inwardly toward the core and the panels being arranged with intervening joint spaces between the edges of adjacent panels adapted to be filled with cement or the like; and fastening devices for the panels, each such fastening device being secured to the core and projecting into a joint spa'ce and comprising a flexible part disposed in said joint space and accessible from the outer side of the wall and bendable, on a line intersecting the core, into and out of locking engagement with the edge portion of a panel.

2. In a wall structure, the combination of a core part; sheet metal panels forming the covering of the core part, the metallic panel sheets having edge portions thereof turned inwardly toward the core and the panels being arranged with intervening joint spaces between the edges of adjacent panels adapted to be filled with cement or the like; and fastening devices for securing the panels to the core comprising elongated strip-like parts secured to the core adjacent the joint spaces and a plurality of flexible parts carried by each strip-like part and disposed in said joint spaces and accessible from the outer side of the wall, each of the flexible parts being adapted to be bent on an axis intersecting the core into and out of lock-4 ing engagement with an adjacent panel.

3. In a wall structure, the combination of a core part; sheet metal panels forming the covering of the core part, the metallic panel sheets having edge portions thereof turned inwardly toward the core and the panels being arranged with intervening joint spaces between the edges of adjacent panels adapted to be filled with cement or the like; and fastening devices forthe panels, each such fastening device comprising a part secured to thecore and projecting into a joint space and a flexible part disposed in said joint space and accessible from the outer side of the wall, the exible part being adapted to be bent on an axis intersecting the core into and out of locking engagement with the edge portion of a panel and one of the mutually engaging surfaces of the panel and the said movable part being inclined to the said axis at an angle such that the locking movement of the exible part presses the panel firmly against the core structure of the wall.

4. In a wall structure, the combination of a core part; sheet metal panels forming the covering of the core part, the metallic panel sheets having edge portions thereof turned inwardly toward the core and the panels being arranged with intervening joint spaces between the edges of adjacent panels adapted to be fllled with cement or the like; and fastening devices for the panels, each such fastening device comprising a part secured to the core and projecting into a joint space and a flexible part disposed in said joint space and accessible from the outer side of the wall, the flexible part being adapted to be bent on an axis intersecting the core into and out of locking engagement with the edge portion of a panel and having a panel-engaging surface inclined to the said axis at an angle such that the locking movement of the flexible part presses the panel firmly against the core structure of the wall.

5. In a wall structure, the combination of a core part; sheet metal panels forming the covering of thecore part, the panel sheets having their edge portions turned inwardly to form pan-like structures and then turned edgewise of the panel and uted on lines intersecting the adjacent edges of the panel sheets to form uted peripheral flanges and the panels being arranged with intervening joint spaces between the edges of adjacent panels; unitary metallic fastening devices for securing the panels to the core part of the wall, each such fastening device comprising a part secured to the core and projecting from the core into a joint space and a part disposed in said joint space and accessible from the outer side of the Wall and movable relative to the other part into and out of locking engagement with the iluted flange of a panel; and cement-like material in the joint spaces closing the joints and covering the fastening means.

CHARLES B. ROWLEY. MEADE A. SPENCER. 

